ABOUT

The Invisible Riot is the debut novel by Rosemary Harris, capturing the direct action protests of the Suffragette movement in the UK. With a unique, visceral interpretation, the book overthrows the cliches of faux-Edwardian covers, pastel sketches of demure ladies in long dresses, and worthy titles usually involving marching or singing (or both). This was not a polite movement, it was a desperate physical battle, with stories that have been substantially sidelined in our cultural memory.

On this site you will find short extracts from the novel, plus reflections on the contemporary legacies of an incendiary, life-and-death struggle.

everything shatters into terrifying shards, her head feels compressed then released like a balloon let go, spiralling chaotically, for a feverish moment she eyes the shop next door as well, the hammer at the end of her arm and why shouldn’t she, there is nothing to stop her, the crowd stands well back, no heroes stride forward

I am so looking forward to reading ‘The Invisible Riot’ I’ve read a few bits of it already from Rosie’s thesis last year. I thought it was stunningly good. Powerful, visceral, original and beautifully written! We are all in for an absolute treat!!!

It was thrilling reading through the novel extracts especially the confrontational second person narrative. This is such a underused device in literature it needs a skilful and sensitive writer like Rosemary Harris to really make it work. It really pushed me to become entwined emotionally with the text…such exciting work…can’t wait to read more!!

Wow – these tantalising extracts just leave me wanting more! Such exciting and skilful stuff – I join the throngs desperate to read the whole thing.Thank you for this brave and vibrant writing and for bringing our herstory to vital and compelling life.

The first time I read these words- they stopped me in my tracks- vital – I love the idea that once the first hammer blow is struck – there is nothing to stop her smashing every window in Oxford Street- publish this book!!!